Daniels began writing and performing in the 1950s. In 1964, Daniels wrote a song called "It Hurts Me" which Elvis Presley recorded. He worked as a session musician, including playing on three Bob Dylan albums during 1969 and 1970. Daniels recorded his first solo album, Charlie Daniels, in 1970. His first hit, the novelty song "Uneasy Rider", came off his 1972 second album, Honey in the Rock, and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1974, Daniels organized the first in a series of Volunteer Jam concerts based in or around Nashville, Tennessee. Except for a three-year gap in the late 1980s, these have continued ever since.
In 1975, he had a top 30 hit as leader of the Charlie Daniels Band (CDB) with the Southern rock self-identification anthem "The South's Gonna Do It Again". "Long Haired Country Boy" was also a minor hit in that year.
Daniels won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1979 for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", which reached #3 on the charts.
Subsequent Daniels pop hits included "In America" (#11 in 1980), "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" (#31 in 1980), and "Still in Saigon" (#22 in 1982).
In the late 1980s and 1990s several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the country charts. Daniels also released several gospel and Christian records.
Charlie Daniels has never shied away from politics. "The South's Gonna Do It" had a mild message of Southern cultural identity within the Southern rock movement. Daniels was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter's presidential bid and performed at his January 1977 inauguration.
"In America" was a reaction to the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis; it described a patriotic, united America where "we'll all stick together and you can take that to the bank / That's the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks." In contrast, "Still in Saigon" (written by Dan Daley) was an effective portrayal of the plight of the American Vietnam veteran ten years after the war; it was part of an early 1980s wave of attention to the subject, in contrast to treatments such as Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." and "Shut Out the Light", Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon", and somewhat later Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road".
In 1990, Daniels' country hit "Simple Man" seemingly advocated a pseudo-Biblical form of vigilantism; lines such as "Just take them [rapists, killers, child abusers] out in the swamp / Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump / Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest," got Daniels considerable media attention and talk show visits.
In 2003, Daniels published an Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch in defence of George W. Bush's Iraq policy. His 2003 book Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag contains this letter as well as many other personal statements. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Daniels acknowledged that having never served in the military himself, he did not have the right to criticize John Kerry's service record.
In 2005, he has made a cameo appearance along with Larry the Cable Guy, Kid Rock, and Hank Williams, Jr. in Gretchen Wilson's music video for the song "All Jacked Up", whose album has been released.
In November 2007, Daniels was invited by Martina McBride to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
In October 2016, Daniels officially became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On October 26, 2018, Daniels released a new side album project that was not solo or CDB, but a new band called Beau Weevils, along with CDB bass player, Charlie Hayward, producer James Stroud on drums and Billy Crain on guitar.
Georgia
Charlie Daniels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full moon shining down along the border
But the gound is hard and the night is black
Over here by the railroad track
And I wish to the Lord that I was back in Georgia
Blue water in the indian sun,
Calling me when the day is done
Mama mama pray for your son
That the LA streets was paved with gold
Fame and fortune waiting to reward ya
But it didn't take long to understand
California ain't the promised land
But at least a man's a man in georgia
Blue skys in the mornin' there
And there's green trees and breathin' air
Rockabye in my easy chair
Well it seems every river in the Georgia moonlight
Flowing up where folks are free
Tthe sun comes up through the lonely pine trees
Over 'round the Kingsland ridge
I maybe here but my mind is still
About 90 miles north of Jacksonville
Well I may not make it, it's a long long road
But mama I've paid all the debts I owe
And if I don't you know they gonna find me tryin'
They took my songs and they took my soul
They made me hard and they made me old
Hell I just been born, but I feel just like I'm dying
(refrain)
The lyrics of Charlie Daniels's "Georgia" reveal the singer's feelings of homesickness and longing for his home state. The song paints a contrasting picture of California, where the streets are said to be paved with gold, but the singer discovers that it's not the promised land. The song is full of imagery and emotions that convey the singer's struggle and desire to return home.
The first verse describes the singer's present situation, where he is far away from Georgia, in Santa Fe. He observes the full moon shining over the border but feels out of place and wishes to be back in Georgia. The second verse tells us about his experiences and desires in California. He has been told that fame and fortune await him there, but he finds himself disillusioned with the reality. The third verse brings back vivid memories of Georgia, with its blue skies, green trees and flowing rivers. The singer wishes to return to the comfort of his home, where he can sit in his easy chair and relax. The final verse conveys the singer's sense of desperation, as he fears he may not make it back home. He feels that his soul has been taken away by his experiences and that he has been made old and weary.
Line by Line Meaning
Lamps in the windows burnin' bright, over in Santa Fe tonight
The bright lights from Santa Fe can be seen from where the singer is, indicating the stark difference in his current location
Full moon shining down along the border
The bright moon highlights the border between two distinct locations
But the ground is hard and the night is black, over here by the railroad track
The singer is in a desolate area with poor conditions
And I wish to the Lord that I was back in Georgia
The singer feels a strong desire to return to his home state of Georgia
Blue water in the Indian sun, calling me when the day is done
The memory of the blue waters in Georgia call to the singer at the end of each day
Mama mama pray for your son
The singer is asking his mother for prayers and support
All of my life I've been told that the LA streets was paved with gold
The singer was led to believe that Los Angeles had great opportunities and wealth
Fame and fortune waiting to reward ya
The promise of fame and fortune is an enticing but unfulfilled dream
But it didn't take long to understand, California ain't the promised land
The singer quickly realized that California did not live up to his expectations
But at least a man's a man in Georgia
The singer believes that people are more genuine and true to themselves in Georgia
Blue skies in the mornin' there, And there's green trees and breathin' air
Georgia is described as a place with clear skies, lush greenery, and fresh air
Rockabye in my easy chair
The singer is comforted by the memories of home
Well it seems every river in the Georgia moonlight, Flowing up where folks are free
The singer sees freedom in Georgia's natural beauty
The sun comes up through the lonely pine trees, Over 'round the Kingsland ridge
The singer reminisces about the scenic views of Georgia's sunrises over the pine trees
I may be here but my mind is still, About 90 miles north of Jacksonville
The singer is physically present but his thoughts are still in Georgia, specifically near Jacksonville where he may have family or friends
Well I may not make it, it's a long long road, But mama I've paid all the debts I owe
The singer acknowledges the long road ahead but has settled his past debts
And if I don't you know they gonna find me tryin'
The singer will do his best and keep trying even if he doesn't succeed
They took my songs and they took my soul, They made me hard and they made me old
The harsh conditions outside of Georgia have taken a toll on the singer both physically and emotionally
Hell I just been born, but I feel just like I'm dying (refrain)
Despite being relatively young, the singer feels worn out and defeated due to his struggles outside of Georgia
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind